Proper Food Storage: The Ultimate Guide (Part I)

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How many times have you bought fresh produce, only to have to toss it a few days later because it got mushy, the leaves blackened, or it grew mold? Well, sure, produce doesn’t last forever, but there is a right way and a wrong way to store your food. What’s more, storing fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs properly lengthens their shelf life and keeps their natural flavor and texture intact. Read through to check out the best ways to store your food; you may be surprised at what you find out!

Tune in next week for part II of the guide, where we’ll take a deeper look into the best ways to store grains, oils, condiments and vinegars, and dairy products.

Stone Fruits Keep on the counter until the fruit is fully ripe, at which point you should refrigerate to prolong their shelf life.

Citrus Fruits Citrus does best in the crisper, not in an air-tight container. Most citrus can be stored at room temperature for several days, however — with the exception of tangerines and mandarins, which should always be refrigerated.

Berries Store in a paper bag in the crisper. Keep an eye out for moisture — berries don’t take well to it. It’s also a good idea to not stack them too high.

Melons Uncut melon doesn’t need to be refrigerated, but should be kept out of the sun. Cut melon should be stored in an open container in the fridge.

Apples Apples don’t need to be refrigerated, but make sure the counter or shelf that you’re storing them on is cool.

Bananas Always keep at room temperature — bananas hate the cold!

Cherries Always refrigerate, ideally in an airtight container. It’s best to store cherries separately from other foods in the fridge, as they tend to absorb odors. Do not wash until use.

Grapes Most grapes come in ventilated plastic bags for a reason — it’s the ideal packing for keeping them fresh. Store in the fridge and wash when you use them.

Dried Herbs They may look pretty sitting out on your counter, but the best way to store dried herbs is in a cool, dark place — like inside a cabinet. They’ll retain their flavor much longer that way.

Basil To keep basil fresh as long as possible (warning: it can be difficult, no matter how hard you try!), store it loosely packed in an airtight container. Keep a small damp piece of paper inside the container. Basil doesn’t like to be cold, so store it on the counter.

Parsley & Cilantro Cut off the bottom tips of the stems and store in a jar of water, like you would with a bouquet of flowers. Keep the leaves dry. Change the water every few days, and use within two weeks.